The Curbly House: Week Three – Ceiling Demolition Disaster and Structural Surprises
After a relatively smooth first week of demolition at the Curbly House, we braced ourselves for the inevitable challenges. Week two proved to be just that – a challenging lesson in how not to demolish a ceiling. Follow along as we share the experience and the lessons learned.
We’re on a mission to breathe new life into our hundred-year-old Dutch Colonial, aiming to make it move-in ready before the arrival of our little one this summer (due in mid-July!). Last week, we uncovered some disconcerting structural issues in the first floor framing. Given that, we decided to proactively investigate the second floor by removing the ceilings in the two front bedrooms upstairs. Our hunch was right – more surprises awaited us!
Before the Chaos: The State of the Ceilings
Let’s take a look at what we were dealing with before the demolition began:
The Two Approaches to Ceiling Demolition: A Tale of Two Bedrooms
During the first floor demolition, we adopted a meticulous approach, carefully removing the plaster layer by layer, followed by the lathe. This is generally considered the “correct” method for plaster ceiling or wall demolition. It simplifies cleanup and allows for the separation of plaster and wood, potentially enabling wood recycling.
However, the process was time-consuming. For the second floor, we explored an alternative: removing the plaster and lathe simultaneously. With attic access, we could simply climb up and break through the ceiling using shovels, sledgehammers, or any tool within reach. While we’re being honest, there’s a certain therapeutic release that comes with demolition!
The Insulation Inferno: A Demolition Disaster
Unfortunately, we severely underestimated the amount of insulation lurking above those ceilings. What appeared to be a few inches quickly transformed into a mountain of debris. Before we knew it, the first bedroom was nearly waist-high in a horrifying mixture of plaster, lathe, and decades-old cellulose insulation. It was, to put it mildly, a complete mess.
Cleanup Catastrophe: A Slow and Grueling Process
While our new method expedited the demolition process, it created a monumental cleanup challenge. The resulting slurry of mixed materials was impossible to shovel, vacuum, or sweep. We tried everything! The only effective solution was to lay down large tarps, manually push the debris onto them, and carry the tarps to the dumpster one by one. It was exhausting.
The first bedroom took a staggering two days to demolish and clean. It quickly became clear that we couldn’t repeat this approach in the second bedroom. Given the slow progress, we decided to revise our plans, leaving the bathroom and the third and fourth bedroom ceilings untouched. These ceilings were in better condition and weren’t covered in ceiling tiles, making them less of a priority.
Redemption Through Refinement: Learning from Our Mistakes
For the second bedroom ceiling, we adopted a more strategic approach. We carefully (and painstakingly) cleared all the insulation, moving it to the other side of the attic before tackling the plaster. This proved to be a much more efficient strategy. We removed the plaster, then the lathe, and cleanup was significantly easier (relatively speaking!).
Structural Discoveries: Uncovering Hidden Weaknesses
Once the ceilings were removed, my suspicions were confirmed: the attic joists (more accurately, the ‘collar-ties’) were in terrible shape. Originally constructed with undersized two-by-fours spanning fifteen feet, many were sagging severely, and some were even cracked completely through.
The Road to Recovery: Reinforcing the Structure
We’ll meticulously repair and reinforce all the damaged joists, resulting in a much sturdier, flatter (and even slightly higher) ceiling. This will not only improve the structural integrity of the house but also enhance the aesthetics of the rooms below.
Electrical Upgrades: Bringing the Curbly House into the 21st Century
In addition to the ceiling demolition and structural repairs, our electrician began the process of pulling new wires on the first floor and installing new boxes for outlets and switches. We also initiated the installation of a new 200-amp electrical panel, which involved drilling a 3-inch hole through our 16-inch stone foundation – a challenging but necessary step.
Looking Ahead: Bathroom Gutting and Continued Progress
This week was undoubtedly demanding, filled with messy demolition work. Unfortunately, the work is far from over. To maintain our renovation schedule, I’ll be spending the weekend gutting the bathroom.
Check back next week to see how the bathroom demolition progresses and what other surprises this old house has in store for us!
Join the Journey: The Curbly House Renovation Series
This is just one chapter in the Curbly House series! Follow along as we document every step of our complete home makeover, from tearing down walls to adding the final decorative touches. Your thoughts and suggestions are invaluable to us, so please share them in the comments below!